diff --git a/chain/store/store.go b/chain/store/store.go
index 00a78500e..2787c146e 100644
--- a/chain/store/store.go
+++ b/chain/store/store.go
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ipfs/go-datastore/query"
 	cbor "github.com/ipfs/go-ipld-cbor"
 	logging "github.com/ipfs/go-log/v2"
-	car "github.com/ipld/go-car"
+	"github.com/ipld/go-car"
 	carutil "github.com/ipld/go-car/util"
 	cbg "github.com/whyrusleeping/cbor-gen"
-	pubsub "github.com/whyrusleeping/pubsub"
+	"github.com/whyrusleeping/pubsub"
 	"golang.org/x/xerrors"
 )
 
@@ -362,6 +362,26 @@ func (cs *ChainStore) MaybeTakeHeavierTipSet(ctx context.Context, ts *types.TipS
 	return nil
 }
 
+// ForceHeadSilent forces a chain head tipset without triggering a reorg
+// operation.
+//
+// CAUTION: Use it only for testing, such as to teleport the chain to a
+// particular tipset to carry out a benchmark, verification, etc. on a chain
+// segment.
+func (cs *ChainStore) ForceHeadSilent(_ context.Context, ts *types.TipSet) error {
+	log.Warnf("(!!!) forcing a new head silently; only use this only for testing; new head: %s", ts)
+
+	cs.heaviestLk.Lock()
+	defer cs.heaviestLk.Unlock()
+	cs.heaviest = ts
+
+	err := cs.writeHead(ts)
+	if err != nil {
+		err = xerrors.Errorf("failed to write chain head: %s", err)
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
 type reorg struct {
 	old *types.TipSet
 	new *types.TipSet
diff --git a/cmd/lotus-bench/import.go b/cmd/lotus-bench/import.go
index 0aa4d1c4b..742f470f8 100644
--- a/cmd/lotus-bench/import.go
+++ b/cmd/lotus-bench/import.go
@@ -424,7 +424,8 @@ var importBenchCmd = &cli.Command{
 
 		if start != nil {
 			startEpoch = start.Height()
-			if err := cs.SetHead(start); err != nil {
+			if err := cs.ForceHeadSilent(context.Background(), start); err != nil {
+				// if err := cs.SetHead(start); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 		}